Chapter 5
Her mouth hung open in disbelief.
“Ha!”
He did her a favor and now wanted her out of the house?
She couldn’t bring herself to curse, so all that escaped was a rough breath.
“Do you really have to go this far? Don’t you think this is just petty?”
At her outburst, Yujin stepped out of the car. He held up Seung-ah’s laptop.
“This. Isn’t this what you needed?”
“…Yes, I need it! I really need it!”
“No reason to get so angry.”
His smooth, leisurely voice grated on her nerves.
Seung-ah clenched her fists. She wanted nothing more than to unleash a string of curses, but now wasn’t the time to be emotional.
She had worked so hard to earn recognition at her job. She couldn’t afford to ruin her image with one rash mistake.
One way or another, she had to get that laptop back!
But how to twist this man around her finger?
After thinking for a moment, Seung-ah forced a bright smile at Yujin and held up two fingers.
“How can I possibly find a place in two weeks? Two months! Give me two months’ grace.”
With a sly smile, Yujin copied her hand gesture and waggled his fingers lazily.
“So you must need this in two months’ time.”
“Fine! One month. At least one month to find a place!”
“Hm…”
After dragging it out, Yujin finally replied.
“Then one month it is.”
Looking quite pleased with himself, he pulled out a document.
“Here, take a look at this.”
“What is it?”
“A written pledge. Putting it in writing is more reliable than words, don’t you think?”
It looked hastily prepared inside his car, with a crumpled corner, and it stated that she was to vacate within a month.
Tch. To think he’d actually draft something like this. What a waste of that elegant handwriting.
“Sign here, at the bottom.”
As if!
She had no intention of agreeing, but pretending to be obedient, Seung-ah accepted the pen he offered.
“Of course, of course. Writing it down makes it official! Who knows what the future holds, right? But this part here…”
It was easy to distract Yujin. She pointed to an entirely normal sentence, and his gaze followed.
In that instant, stepping on his polished shoe was child’s play.
“Ahhh!”
He let out a short cry, stumbling.
“Oh no! Oh my, I’m so sorry. Did I step on your foot? I didn’t mean to…”
Now! Seung-ah snatched the laptop in a flash and bolted like a bullet.
Once she had put some distance between them, she turned and waved with a radiant smile.
“Han Yujin! Sorry about your foot. My meeting’s about to start, so… see you at home later!”
Then she spun around and ran again. Her long hair swayed side to side with each step, reflecting her bubbling joy.
All Yujin could do was watch her bouncing away in high spirits.
It wasn’t as though he could start a chase in the middle of a busy street at midday.
The pledge he had so carefully prepared was left fluttering pitifully on the ground. Seeing it like that brought a crooked smile to his lips.
“Ha! She’s not easy.”
He picked up the document and climbed back into his car.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Just as he started the engine, a call came in from Madam Geum Il-bong. Yujin hit the answer button and immediately complained:
“I just got stepped on by Choi Seung-ah.”
Even at the sudden statement, Il-bong didn’t sound surprised.
—And you just stood there? You probably told her to move out, didn’t you.
She already knew without him explaining. She could guess exactly what he’d said.
—Unless your bone’s broken, come see your grandmother.
“I think it’s at least three weeks’ recovery.”
—Then come in a wheelchair.
Either way, not coming wasn’t an option.
Yujin let out a small sigh. There was only one thing he could say to his grandmother.
“Alright.”
—Also, I’ll be arranging a meeting soon, so clear your schedule.
A meeting? He didn’t need to hear the rest.
Marriage.
She would surely push him into another blind date. Every time he returned to Korea, it was the same compulsory ritual.
—Chairman Oh Cheol-jin of GK Group has called several times. His granddaughter wants to meet you.
“Grandmother, GK Group’s Oh Chaerin is…”
—Yes, I know. You said you bumped into her in the States once? This time, meet her properly.
Her firm tone made it clear her mind was set. She would drag him to that arranged date no matter what.
But Yujin already despised blind dates to the core. And knowing who the partner was made it even worse.
Oh Chaerin! As Il-bong had said, he had met her before in the U.S.
She’d been at a gathering he attended to see a friend, and she was bold, forward, more than anyone else there.
‘Can I call you oppa, Yujin oppa?’
‘I don’t need a little sister.’
He had replied with a sandpaper-flat expression, but that only seemed to spark her interest further. Her eyes lit up, as though she’d spotted a tempting prey.
‘Then… girlfriend?’
That day, Chaerin had showered him with aggressive affection. Even after the gathering ended, she had pestered him several times.
“So, Oh Chaerin still hasn’t given up?”
He had drawn a clear line, yet she had pushed through and secured a blind date through her grandfather. Her persistence deserved recognition, at least.
Not that it would ever lead anywhere.
After finishing the presentation, Seung-ah returned to the office to find her colleagues buzzing.
“What’s going on?”
Spotting her, Mi-yeon lit up.
“Great job today! The Senior Managing Director and the General Manager were both thrilled.”
Other coworkers showered her with praise as well.
“Assistant Manager Choi, you were amazing today!”
“We’ll do our best to support the special exhibition.”
“Thanks, but… what were you all gathered around for?”
Mi-yeon leaned in and lowered her voice.
“The new Division Director starts tomorrow.”
“Our manager finally got promoted? Already?”
Manager Kim Moo-chil was not only a chatterbox who loved gossip but also ambitious for promotion. Everyone had expected him to snatch the director’s seat.
But Mi-yeon waved her hand.
“Nope. It’s not an internal promotion. They’re bringing in someone from outside.”
“What? Then our manager’s chance is gone?”
The employees nodded vigorously.
Stretching her neck, Mi-yeon glanced toward Moo-chil’s office.
“The Managing Director’s secretary hinted at it earlier. It’s Louis Han coming!”
At the familiar name, Seung-ah froze.
“Who?”
“Lou-is Han.”
Louis Han was a world-renowned designer.
His living collection products sold out instantly on major online shopping platforms’ dining categories, topping sales for three years straight.
His striking looks had even landed him on the covers of leading American magazines, boosting his fame further.
“Hard to believe, right? Apparently the Chairman worked for a long time to recruit him. His salary must be astronomical.”
Excited employees all chimed in.
“I’ve seen him in a magazine—his looks, sure, but his presence was on another level.”
“I even have the magazine where he was the cover model!”
“Really? Bring it in. Let’s see that perfect face.”
All eyes turned toward the employee rushing to fetch it.
Seung-ah vaguely recalled glimpsing his photo once before, over Mi-yeon’s squealing shoulder. A tall man, that much she remembered.
But his face? Not so clearly.
‘Can he really be that great?’
Just before the magazine hit the table, a loud bark cut through the air.
“Assistant Manager Choi!”
It was Moo-chil emerging from his office. Employees scattered back to their desks like a receding tide. Everyone knew his failed promotion would soon turn into misplaced anger.
“Yes, Manager.”
“Step into my office for a minute.”
Seung-ah quickly gauged his mood. Missing his promotion, he might lash out for no reason.
But to her surprise, he looked in good spirits, lounging in his chair.
“Assistant Manager Choi, today’s presentation was excellent. The way you answered the Managing Director’s questions—spot on. He’s very pleased, especially with the special exhibition. Says he’s looking forward to it.”
The wide grin stretching his face suggested he still believed his promotion was certain. Apparently, he hadn’t yet heard about Louis Han.
“Thank you.”
“Stay focused until the exhibition wraps up. Let’s keep up the good work.”
“Yes, sir.”
His ambition might have crumbled, but what could she do?
Soon, someone of incomparable talent, a name known throughout the ceramics industry—Louis Han—would arrive.
As she left his office quietly, Seung-ah resolved to make a good impression on the new director.
Completely unaware that earlier that day, she had stomped on his foot.
